The New NZEB Centre of Excellence Set to Transform Green Construction Upskilling in Ireland’s Northwest
With Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards entrenched and Zero Energy Building standards a requirement on the horizon, training in NZEB skills has become vital. The new Energy Build Centre of Excellence in Co. Sligo offers regional training in ‘green construction’ that can help small businesses across the Northwest of Ireland upskill and adapt to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).
In 2021, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive mandated that all new builds had to meet Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards, in advance of further changes. By 2028, all new buildings owned or occupied by public bodies will need to meet the Zero Energy Building (ZEB) standard. ZEB standards will then apply to all new buildings from January 2030. This policy change means professionals in Ireland need to upskill in ‘green construction’ topics to remain compliant and keep skillsets relevant.
The NZEB Centres of Excellence provide this green construction training. NZEB Centres are managed by the Education & Training Boards (ETBs) for Waterford & Wexford, City of Dublin, Laois & Offaly, Cork, and Limerick & Clare. Training is offered in topics such as thermal insulation installation, airtightness and vapour control, and retrofitting.
Now, professionals in the northwest of Ireland, including the counties in Connacht as well as Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan, have a regional option for training in these key areas. The new Energy Build Centre of Excellence in Collooney, Co. Sligo, offers a much-needed outlet for learning about NZEB and sustainable construction. Managed by Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB (MSLETB) as part of Sligo College, the Centre aims to “equip learners with the skills and certifications needed to thrive in a low-carbon, energy-efficient future”.
Trevor Sweetman, Adult Education Officer at MSLETB, expanded on what the Energy Build Centre of Excellence offers to the local construction ecosystem:
“Strategically, this location for a new NZEB training centre is ideal. Sligo is at a crossroads of the Northwest of Ireland, and serves a major catchment area of small construction businesses. MSLETB has always been innovative in the upskilling it offers, so it made sense to host an NZEB Centre of Excellence here. While the skills transition to NZEB was major, the move on to ZEB standards will be much more impactful. The new centre in Sligo can help this transition.”
Adult Education Officer at MSLETB
The Energy Build Centre of Excellence was designed by NZEB architects Mosart Group, with McMorrow Contractors refurbishing a former warehouse and installing a mezzanine floor to accommodate training areas in different building systems.
Some of the courses offered at the Energy Build Centre of Excellence were developed by Waterford & Wexford ETB, who operate the first of the flagship NZEB Centres of Excellence funded by SOLAS, and have extensive expertise in NZEB and sustainable building systems. Other partners contributing to developing courses included Wexford County Council, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Gas Networks Ireland, several of the Irish technical universities, and key government departments. Educators are sourced from the private sector and within the MSLETB’s panel of expert trainers.
One such trainer is Basil Love, a carpenter by trade who has been with the MSLETB for more than 26 years. In that time, Basil has trained several generations of apprentices who have gone onto work for construction companies across Ireland and, more recently, helped to re-skill construction professionals in NZEB and retrofitting skills.
“When I was still a carpenter, I started working in community training programmes, and then I became a site foreman training apprentices. Although I like working with people and I’m a good communicator, it took time for me to develop these skills and transition from tradesperson to a full-time trainer. Upskilling in fundamental retrofitting skills in recent years hasn’t just helped build my knowledge of sustainable construction – the NZEB ‘Train the Trainer’ course I did helped me become a fully confident trainer.”
Trainer, MSLETB
Basil delivers the Energy Build Centre’s courses in NZEB Fundamental Awareness, Thermal Insulation Installation, Retrofitting Skills, External Wall Insulation, and Airtightness & Vapour Control. Training uses construction products from regional companies focused on Modern Methods of Construction such as Kingspan in Co. Cavan and Ecological Building Systems in Co. Meath, as well as products from local hardware stores. This ensures all learners are familiar with the building materials used by sustainability-minded contractors.
The Energy Build Centre is attracting learners from all different backgrounds, including building professionals looking to upskill to young apprentices to homeowners wanting to learn how to make their own home more energy efficient. Basil notes that there are “major differences in how to teach different people”, with his experience and ‘Train the Trainer’ expertise helping him to connect people to what he says are vital skills.
“In my opinion, architects and other construction professionals don’t get exposure to the realities of sustainable construction onsite enough. Training for those types of people in NZEB courses should be essential. There are lots of installers that don’t have the necessary training and do not fully understand the importance of continuity of insulation to prevent thermal bridging. Installers should have to be trained up and have achieved certification in sustainability skills prior to carrying out any retrofit or installs in a new build. I want to see the Energy Build Centre continuing to develop to meet these skills needs.”
Trainer, MSLETB
Mark O’Shea recently completed the Energy Build Centre’s course in Retrofitting Skills, the latest step in a 30+ year career in construction that has seen him do “everything from electrical work, carpentry, masonry, painting and decorating, and property development for a real estate agent”. In more recent years Mark had moved into working in Operational Health and Safety (OH&S) for commercial developments.
“I’ve always had an interest in quality assurance, and OH&S goes hand-in-hand with quality checks. I wanted to learn a bit more about sustainable construction as assessing the quality of sustainable builds is a natural follow on from that.”
Operational Health and Safety (OH&S) Consultant at Nexicore Consulting and Freelance Project Supervisor
Mark took great interest in the specialist tools and techniques in cutting and fitting insulation boards, as well as the quality checks required of airtightness and vapour control systems. It has inspired him to consider the other sustainable construction courses available – training that, much like Basil, Mark believes should be mandatory.
“The benefits of these types of courses are massive. There is huge potential to upskill young lads, ensuring they can build to the highest standard. This training should also get people excited about working in construction as it's an opportunity for older guys to stay in the game longer. It isn't hard labour – cutting and fitting light insulation panels, or even supervising those installers onsite, is easier on the body and should keep experience in the sector longer.”
Operational Health and Safety (OH&S) Consultant at Nexicore Consulting and Freelance Project Supervisor
Trevor says that, over the next five years, the Energy Build Centre is looking to expand training to teach ZEB construction, in line with coming building energy performance directives. He also said the Centre could expand into ‘MMC-specific training’, as well as digital construction courses. Teaching this broad base of skills should contribute to meeting ambitious but necessary climate targets set for the building sector.
“To achieve our national climate targets, we need to address local skills gaps first by upskilling existing workers and providing pathways for new learners to move towards more sustainable construction practices. It is part of our remit to support local businesses in the Northwest of Ireland with a pipeline of talent.”
Adult Education Officer at MSLETB
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